Rotary cutter



Jan. 2, 1940. s. AIDE VLIEG 2,185,187

ROTARY CUTTER 7 Filed May 23, 193B INVENTOR Gerard A. Del 15:23 BY w W 6v A RNEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in rotary cutters, such asreamers and the like, adapted for metal removing operations, and hasparticular reference to a rotary cutter with new and improved means forrigidly securing renewable and adjustable cutting elements in position.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel rotary cutterin which each cutting element is adapted to beclamped and guided fordrifting adjustment by a single unitary combination wedge and guidemember, and in which a unitary locking-means is adapted simultaneouslyto maintain said members in binding association with the cuttingelements 1 any selected position of adjustment.

Another object is to provide a new and improved rotary cutter of theforegoing character in which the cutting elements can be ground firstcylindrically and then for relief while adjusted into a positiondefining a minimum or undersized cylinder of revolution of the cuttingedges, and in which the cutting elements can then be adjusted to locatethe cutting edges in an expanded desired cylinder of revolution.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rotary cutter embodying the featuresof my invention.

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view of the cutter taken along line 22 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cutter.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the unitary clamping members forthe cutting elements. 1

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the body orholder of the cutter is designated generally at H). Extending axiallytherefrom is a reduced extension H adapted to be secured in any suitablemanner to conventional rotary drive means. Formed in the peripheralsurface of the body and extending in a generally longitudinal directionis a plurality of slots or recesses H in which a series of cuttingelements, tools or blades l3 are adjustably mounted. The slots may bespaced equally or irregularly, and the bottom, root or base surfacesthereof are slightly inclined inwardly from the end race of the body andradially toward the axis thereof. 6 Each blade has a suitable cuttingedge l4 fashioned to lie in a cylinder of revolution corresponding tothat of the bore to be reamed and the thickness dimension of the bladeis such as to provide a close sliding fit between the blade 10 and itsreceiving slot. The inner or base surface of the blade opposite to thecutting edge is formed on an angle complemental to the inclination ofthe root surface of the recess. Hence, when the blade is seated in arecess, the base of the blade and the root of the recess have flatsurface contact throughout. An adjusting. ring or nut l5 has screwthreaded engagement with the body adjacent to the reduced extension IIfor abutment with the inner ends of the blades. The position of theblades longitudinally with respect to the inclined roots of the recessesdetermines the extent of radial adjustment of the blades and thisposition is fixed by abutment with the adjusting nut. The front orleading sides of the slots l2 are disposed radially so that the cuttingedges M will be adjusted radially upon longitudinal movement of theblades I3.

Means is provided for locking each ofthe blades in adjusted position. Inthe present instance, this means is in the form of a unitary elementadapted to exert a wedging force between shoulders on a side wall oftherecess and an adjacent side wall of the blade. The element iselongated so that the wedging force is exerted throughout a substantialportion of the blade and the force is primarily directed to seat theblade against the root of the recess.

The blade locking means comprises a plurality of individual elongatedmembers I 6 (see Fig. 4), 40 one for each blade l3. Each member I6 iscomposed of two integral longitudinal relatively inclined sections l1and I8 which may be provided in various forms as illustrated and claimedin my copending application Serial No. 135,066, filed April 5,1937. Inthe member I8 herein shown, one of the sections, for example, thesection II, is semicylindrical, and the other section, i. e., thesection I8, is rectangular, in transverse form. The angular relationshipof the axes of the two sections l1 and I8 is sharply acute, andpreferably approximately five degrees (5). The length of the member orpin I6 is slightly less than that of the blade l3.

On one side face of the blade between the cutting edge and base thereofis a longitudinally extending groove or recess IQ of cross sectionalform to receive snugly and slidably one section of the locking pin(herein the section IS). The side wall of the recess, which in assemblyis opposed to the grooved wall of the blade is longitudinally grooved orrecessed as at 20 to receive the other pin section l1.

While the grooves l9 and 20 are so positioned that they may be broughtinto substantial registry at the exposed end face of the body, the axesof the grooves l9 and 20 have the same sharply acute angularrelationship as the axes of the pin sections l1 and I8. Thisrelationship is such that upon insertion of the locking pin sectionsinto their respective grooves, the blade is moved toward and into rigidlocked abutment against the root of the recess by the wedging actionresulting from the angular relation of the pin sections and grooves. Inthis particular arrangement, the blade groove I9 substantially parallelsthe plane of the blade base, while the recess groove 20 angles towardthe root surface. The recess groove 20 has the greater angularity withrespect to the axis of the cutter body and hence with respect to theroot surface of the recess I2.

In the assembly of the cutter, the blades i3, with the pins l6 fitted inthe grooves I9, are inserted into the slots l2 against the nut l5 whichis adjusted for minimum diameter of the circle of revolution of thecutting edges M. Then, the pins l6 are drifted inwardly individually totighten the blades l3 in position. The outer ends of the pins l6 whichmay project beyond the blades l3 are now out off even with the outerends of the blades which project a short distance outwardly beyond theend of the body I0.

After being secured in position as described, the blades I3 are groundcylindrically round on their outer faces. Then the backs of the facesare relief ground as indicated at 2|, leaving a narrow cylindrical land22 along the cutting edge Hi. If desired, the outer ends of the bladesl3 may also be beveled as indicated at 23. After the blades are ground,the nut I5 is turned to adjust or drift the blades [3 outwardly to thedesired diameter of revolution. The relative inclination of the pinsections l1 and i8 is sufficiently large, for example, five degrees (5),that the clamping action is not so tight as to prevent driftingadjustment of the blades by means of the nut 15. Upon outward adjustmentof the blades l3, the land areas 22 recede from the cutting edges i linwardly of the circle of revolution to define a cutting clearance.

Means is provided for locking the pins i6 tightly in clamping positionto confine the blades l3 rigidly and securely in position of finalselected adjustment. This means comprises an end clamp 24 preferably inthe form of a circular disk adapted to be secured coaxially to the outerend of the body ill by a bolt 25. The periphery of the disk 24 isbeveled, and is formed with a plurality of radial slots 26 correspondingin number and spacing to the blades l3 and adapted to interfit snuglywith the sides of the latter. The disk 24 at points intermediate theslots 26, i. e., at the lead edges of the slots, is adapted to engagethe outer ends of the pins l6.

After outward adjustment of the blades l3 to final diameter, the bolt 25is tightened, thereby clamping the disk 24 against the ends of the pinsIt to tighten the latter simultaneously. The nut i5 is then tightenedagainst the opposite ends of the blades I3. It will be understood thatduring the outward adjustment of the blades, the plus it are heldagainst outward movement by the disk 24 which is loosely in position.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cutter comprising, in combination, a rotatable body having anoutwardly opening slot therein defined by opposed side walls and a rootsurface disposed at an angle to the axis of said body, a blade snuglyand slidingly fitting said slot and having a bottom face formed on anangle complemental to that of said root surface, grooves formed inadjacent side faces of said slot and said blade, the axis of the groovein said blade being substantially parallel with the plane of said bottomface and the groove in the slot face being at asharply acute angle ofapproximately 5 toward the plane of said root surface, a locking pinfreely slidable in said grooves and having angularly related sectionsrespectively complemental to said grooves to produce upon insertionthereof into said grooves a wedging force for holding said blade seatedagainst said root surface in any relative longitudinal position ofadjustment, and a clamping, member adjustably secured to the outer endof said body for engaging the outer end of said pin to press the latterlongitudinally into wedge clamping position.

2. A cutter comprising, in combination, a rotatable body having anoutwardly opening slot therein defined by opposed side walls and a rootsurface, a blade snugly and slidingly fitting said slot, grooves formedin adjacent side faces of said slot andsaid blade, the axes of saidgrooves intersecting at an acute angle with the axis of the groove inthe face of said slot having the greater angularity with respect to theaxis of the cutter, a locking pin of substantial length having oppositelongitudinal sections developed on the angular relationships of saidgrooves and fashioned for insertion into said grooves to lock the bladein said recess against said root surface, and means for locking said pinin endwise position.

3. A cutter comprising, in combination, a rotatable body having aplurality of outwardly opening slots therein each defined by opposedside walls and a root surface disposed at an angle to the axis of saidbody, a plurality of blades snugly and slidingly fitting said slotsrespectively and each having a bottom face formed on an anglecomplemental to that of the associated root surface, grooves formed inadjacent side faces of each slot and associated blade, the axis of thegroove in each blade being substantially parallel with the plane of theassociated bottom face and the groove in the slot face being at asharply acute angle toward the plane of the associated root surface, aplurality of locking pins freely slidable respectively in said sets ofgrooves and having angularly related sections respectively complementalto said grooves to produce upon insertion thereof into said grooves awedging force for holding said blades seated against said root surfacesin any relative longitudinal position of adjustment, a disk coaxial withsaid body and having peripherally spaced slots receiving the outer endsof said blades and engaging the outer ends of said pins, and means forsecuring said disk to the outer end of said body for axial clampingadjustment.

4. A cutter comprising, in combination, a rotatable body having aplurality of outwardly opening slots therein each defined by opposedside walls and a root surface disposed at an angle to the axis of saidbody a plurality of blades snugly and slidingly fitting said slotsrespectively and each having a bottom face formed on an anglecomplemental to that of the associated root surface, grooves formed inadjacent side faces of each slot and associated blades, the axis of thegroove in each blade being substantially parallel with the plane of theassociated bottom face and the groove in the slot face being at asharply acute angle toward the plane ofthe associated root surface, aplurality of locking pins freely slidable respectively in said sets ofgrooves and having angularly related sections respectively complementalto said grooves to produce upon insertion thereof into said grooves awedging force for holding said blades seated against said root surfacesin any relative longitudinal position of adjustment, means for engagingthe outer ends of said pins to hold said pins in wedge clampingposition, an adjusting ring threaded on the inner end of said body forengagement with the inner ends of said blades, said acute angle beingsuch that said ring is adjustable to drift said blades longitudinallywhen said last mentioned means is released.

5. A cutter comprising, in combination, a rotatable body having anoutwardly opening slot therein defined by opposed side walls and a rootsurface disposed at an angle to the axis of said body, a blade snuglyand slidingly fitting said slot and having a bottom face formed on anangle complemental to that of said root surface, grooves formed inadjacent side faces of said slot and said blade, the axis of the groovein said blade being substantially parallel with the plane of said bottomface and the groove in the slot face being at a sharply acute angletoward the plane of said root surface, a locking pin freely slidable insaid grooves and having angularly related sections respectivelycomplemental to said grooves to produce upon insertion thereof into saidgrooves a wedging force for holding said blade seated against said rootsurface in any relative longitudinal position of adjustment, a clampingmember engaging the outer end of said pin and adlustable to tighten saidpin, and a locating member adjustably mounted on said body for engagingthe inner end of said blade, said acute angle being such that saidlocating member is operable to drift said blade longitudinally outwardagainst the restraining action of said pin when said clamping member isreleased.

6. A cutter having, in combination, a body having an outwardly openingslot therein defined by opposed side walls and a root surface, a bladesnugly and slidably fitting said slot, angularly related grooves formedin adjacent side faces of the slot and blade, an elongated locking pinhaving longitudinal sections developed on the angular relationship ofthe grooves and adapted for insertion into said grooves from the outerend of said body, the angularity of the relationships of the grooves andof the pin sections being such as to effect a firm seating of the bladeagainst the root surface as an incident to movement of said pin intosaid grooves and to permit drifting of said blade longitudinally of saidslot toward the outer end of said body, adjusting means for moving theblades in such direction, and clamping means acting on the outer ends ofsaid pins to move the pins into the grooves and thereby clamp the bladesin an adjusted position.

GERARD A. DE V'LIEG.

